Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 643 Operation Completed

Shanda Literature's IPO journey, which ended in New York, was like a stone thrown into a lake, creating only brief ripples in the capital market.
But in the country, things seem to be calm and peaceful.

However, inside Shanda Literature's headquarters building in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, undercurrents were already swirling.

Wu Wenhui has already begun taking action.

The failed IPO shattered his last remaining illusion that Chen Tianqiao could lead Shanda Literature to glory.

He broke his silence and began to meet frequently in private with the core members who co-founded Qidian.com.

An invisible pressure began to weigh on CEO Hou Xiaoqiang.

Although he was personally appointed CEO by Chen Tianqiao;

However, within the company, the "idea-driven" veterans, led by Wu Wenhui, still occupy the core positions in the content department.

These people are the ones who truly fought their way out of the bloody early days of online novels.

They not only hold the core power of content moderation on the website, but also have a large number of top-tier authors behind them.

This foundation cannot be easily shaken by a single appointment.

Hou Xiaoqiang could sense that the elders who used to be quite polite to him were now looking at him differently.

Meanwhile, in the top-floor office of Shanda Group, Chen Tianqiao, feeling the escalating factional infighting within the company, rubbed his throbbing temples, his head throbbing with pain.

……

Meanwhile, the Cannes Film Festival in France has finally come to a close.

Because no Chinese-language films were nominated for the main competition, domestic media briefly reported that Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" won the Palme d'Or and then moved on.
More space and attention have been devoted to the domestic film market.

Meanwhile, the domestic market is welcoming another Hollywood blockbuster – Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Upon its release, it demonstrated terrifying dominance.

It raked in 1.49 million RMB at the box office in its opening weekend, completely dominating all domestic films released during the same period.

Fortunately, there weren't any major domestic commercial blockbusters during this period; only Gu Changwei's art film "Love for Life" and Liu Weiqiang's "A Simple Life" were struggling to stay afloat.
In May, amidst the onslaught of Hollywood blockbusters, Starry Night Pictures and Wanda Pictures quietly announced the release date for a new domestic film.

[Aiming for the summer blockbuster season! The sci-fi epic *Ex Machina*, co-produced by Starry Sky and Wanda Pictures and directed by Guo Fan, is set to release on July 15th!]

[After Wu Chen's sci-fi success, who will rise to the top? The poster for the new chapter of Chinese sci-fi, "Ex Machina," has been revealed for the first time!]

Guo Fan's film "Ex Machina" was released on July 15th, a prime summer holiday weekend.

With the release date announced, the film's first concept poster was also released.

The overall color scheme of the poster is a cold silver-gray and dark blue.

At the center of the image is the futuristic upper body of a female robot, composed of countless intricate lines and a semi-transparent shell.
Her eyes were closed, and behind her, through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, lay the brightly lit cityscape at night.

The male protagonist, played by Huang Xuan, is wearing a simple white shirt and stands in the shadows with his back to the screen, leaving the audience with only a lonely and complex silhouette as he gazes at the "masterpiece" he created himself.

At the bottom of the poster, in minimalist white text, it reads:

Will you fall in love with your creation?

The poster's design, brimming with a sophisticated sci-fi feel and a subtle touch of suspense and philosophical reflection, instantly sparked heated discussions online.

Wow! This poster has a great feel to it! It's got that Blade Runner vibe!

"Sci-fi movies are hard to make, but looking at this poster, it seems promising."

"Hopefully, Wu Chen can truly cultivate a capable new director for domestic science fiction films this time."

"Don't be too optimistic. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. If things don't go as planned, I hope everyone can give the newcomers some encouragement."

As the second director of a science fiction film after Wu Chen, Xingchen Pictures has raised expectations both inside and outside the industry.

Meanwhile, some film producers who originally planned to release films in mid-to-late July also began to reassess their release dates.

"There's no need to hide, is there? It's not like Wu Chen directed it himself. How much box office appeal can a newcomer have?"

"It would be good if we could produce another director who grosses over 100 million yuan. The film will be released as usual. If we run into each other, so be it. I don't believe he can beat us all."

……

Meanwhile, on the lawn by the sea in Xiamen, Wu Chen was finally about to experience the heavy rain he had been waiting for for days.

The gale arrived first, whipping up the waves and creating a tremendous roar.

In just a few minutes, the sky slowly began to change from a bright azure blue.

"Now! All departments, take note! Start filming!" With Wu Chen's command, the entire crew sprang into action amidst the howling wind.

Immediately afterwards, large raindrops began to fall, quickly forming a curtain of rain that poured down.

Wu Chen wore a black suit that was instantly soaked by the rain, while Liu Yifei wore a pure white wedding dress, the thin skirt fluttering wildly in the wind, clinging tightly to her body.

In the pouring rain, the two ran towards each other, laughing as they trudged through the muddy grass.

The surrounding "guests" were in complete chaos.

Fan Wei, who plays the uncle, has his wig blown off by the wind, revealing his shiny bald spot. He chases after the wig in a disheveled state.

The mother, played by Sarina, took off her high heels and ran barefoot through the mud, trying to use a small tablecloth to shield herself from the rain.

The whole scene was chaotic and comical.

But Wu Chen and Liu Yifei, who are in the center of the frame, only have eyes for each other.

They embraced tightly in the rain, laughing loudly as if no one else was around, letting the cold rain wash over their faces, their happiness emanating from the bottom of their hearts.
The camera slowly zoomed in, focusing on the two faces tightly embracing.

Rain streamed down Wu Chen's cheeks. Looking at Liu Yifei, who was also soaked but beaming with joy, he suddenly whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"This year, we got engaged..."

Liu Yifei's laughter paused slightly. She looked up at Wu Chen's eyes, which were still surprisingly bright in the rain. Her smile, mixed with the rain, looked particularly touching in the camera lens.

It was a pure and innocent feeling that emanated from the depths of one's heart, completely untainted by any impurity, after being enveloped in an immense sense of happiness.

"Um……"

"So what date do you think we should choose?" Wu Chen asked with a smile. "You decide!"

"That's unacceptable! You decide..."

"..."

Not far away, Li Qin, whose group scene had already ended, looked at the two people in the rain and couldn't help but mutter, "Sister Yifei's acting in this scene was so good, it was just like the real thing..."

"It's true, isn't it?"

Shu Chang chuckled inwardly.

"These two young people..."

Veteran actors Wang Zhiwen and Fan Wei saw through the trick at a glance.

They weren't far apart, and looking at the way their mouths were moving and their eyes practically overflowing the screen, it was obvious that these two weren't acting at all.

"However, the design of this scene is indeed quite good."

Fan Wei leaned closer and remarked, "A wedding in the rain, chaotic yet orderly. If this scene were edited well, it could probably become a famous moment."

"You don't need to worry about the editing at all." Wang Zhiwen took a drag of his cigarette and pointed at Wu Chen in the rain. "You forgot, the one who plays the male lead?"

"Haha, that's true!"

The group laughed heartily.

This seemingly chaotic ensemble scene was actually meticulously designed by Wu Chen in every detail.

Fan Wei's wig was blown away, Sarina ran around in a disheveled state, and even in the distance, a child was happily splashing in the mud...

Every scene serves as a foil and foreshadowing for the protagonist's ultimate romance, making the entire scene incredibly vivid and layered.

After this exhilarating rain scene, the subsequent filming went much more smoothly.

Time flies, and it's already the second day of June.

As Wu Chen shouted the long-awaited "Cut" from behind the monitor, the entire crew erupted in thunderous applause.

"I hereby announce that filming for 'The Warmest Thirty Days of My Life' has officially wrapped!"

(End of this chapter)